- EGYPT
- August 13, 2014
- 11 minutes read
PRESS STATEMENT: Human Rights Watch Evidence Report on Rabaa Massacre be Passed to International Courts
Human Rights Watch has today published damning evidence, which demonstrates that senior members of the post-coup government in Egypt were responsible for Crimes against Humanity.
The report names senior individuals including the Field General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim as being responsible for the planning and execution of the plan which led to the pre-meditated killings of Egyptian protestors.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom & Justice Party confirm that they will pass this report to the police and international courts in support of their legal cases against those responsible for these international crimes.
The 195 page report, “All According to Plan: The Rab’a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt” follows HRW’s year-long investigation and corroborates the criminal complaints made by the Muslim Brotherhood and FJP. It evidences the systematic and widespread use of ‘grossly disproportionate and premeditated lethal attacks’ killing at least 1,150 demonstrators by Egyptian security forces in July and August 2013.
The report documents the manner in which the Egyptian police and army methodically opened fire with live ammunition on crowds of peaceful demonstrators opposed to the military’s 3 July ouster of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first elected civilian president, at six demonstrations between 5 July and 17 August 2013. It concludes that these acts are likely to amount to crimes against humanity.
HRW’s executive director, Kenneth Roth, confirmed that the responsibility for these criminal acts rested at the highest level in the post-coup government. He said “This wasn’t merely a case of excessive force or poor training. It was a violent crackdown planned at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. Many of the same officials are still in power in Egypt, and have a lot to answer for.”
Lawyers acting on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood and the FJP have brought a number of legal cases intended to hold the post coup regime accountable for its criminal acts. These have been lodged at the ICC, African Union and with a number of national prosecution authorities including in the United Kingdom.
London based international lawyer, Tayab Ali, who heads the Muslim Brotherhood’s legal team said “the Human Rights Watch report provides independent support for our case that members of the Egyptian post-coup government are responsible for the very serious international crimes that were committed against unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt. We have already provided significant evidence to the police and investigative authorities in a number of countries including the United Kingdom. We will add to that the powerful evidence contained in this report.
There is clear evidence that the post-coup military led regime planned and used extreme violence to support the coup. As the evidence grows it will become harder for those responsible for these crimes to evade justice. Those responsible for planning and executing these crimes against the people of Egypt will be prosecuted. It is just a matter of time”.
End
Notes
ITN solicitors are a leading Criminal and Human Rights law firm based in London. Further details at
The Muslim Brotherhood and Freedom & Justice Party is advised by Tayab Ali, Lord Ken Macdonald QC, Prof. John Dugard SC and Rodney Dixon QC
Tayab Ali is solicitor advocate and partner at ITN Solicitors
Lord Ken Macdonald QC is a barrister at Matrix Chambers
Professor John Dugard SC is a door tenant at 20 Essex Street Chambers
Rodney Dixon QC is a barrister at Temple Garden Chambers
Contact at ITN Solicitors:
Tayab Ali [email protected]
